Fence supporting device



July 19, 1932.

D. T. FINKBEINER FENCE SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed Aug. 8, 1931 2Sheets-Sheet l July 19, 1932.

. D. T. FINKBEINER FENCE SUPPORTING DEVIC E Filed Aug. 8, 1951 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Zinnentor W 3 attorney Patented July 19, 1932 UNITEDSTATES DANIEL 'r. FINKBEINER, on BEAVER, PENnsYLvAnin.

FENCE SUFPORTING DEVICE Application filed August 8, 1931. Serial No.555,995.

This invention is a device for supporting fences, and more particularlyfences of the flexibly-connected-picket type, although not limited touse in connection with this particular character of fencing.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple andinexpensive means by which the weight of the fencing may be adequatelysupported, and in such a manner as to eliminate wire wear and breakagedue to torsion and abrasion while the fencing is in use; A furtherobject is to provide means which will greatly facilitate the erection offencing, and which will permit the use of shorter fence posts than thosenow commonly required. A further object is to provide means forsupporting snow fencing and similar flexible structures withoutnecessity of wiring the fence pickets to the posts, as is now commonpractice. A 'further object is to provide means for so supporting thefencing that the entire weight of the structure concentrates at aposition located a short distance above the ground line, therebylowering the center of gravity or force thrust on the post, and avoidingthe supporting of the weight by hooking the longitudinal wire strands tolugs or hooks projecting from the posts.

The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth and particularlypointed out in the claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation illustrating a portion of a snow fence,and means for supporting the same constructed in accordance with theinvention. Figure 2 is a cross section on the line 22, Figure 1. Figure3 is a cross sectional view on the line 33, Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a perspective view illustrating the fence supportingstirrup. Figure 5 is a simi-. lar view of the fence steadying clamp.Figure 6 is a view illustrating a slight modification. Fig. 7 is aperspective view showing a slight modification of the fence supportingstirrup as shown in Figure 6.

' Referring to the drawings, P designates a fence post which may be ofany preferred construction. For purposes of illustration, the same isshown as constructed of steel of channel shape in cross section and withmarginal flanges 10.

Mounted on the fence post near the lower end thereof is a fencesupporting stirrup S, which is preferably constructed of sheet metalbent into channel form to provide sides 11 and 12 respectively.Portions'of the one side, such as the outer side 12 arecut as indicatedat 13, and bent inwardly at right angles to engage the wall 11, so as toform relatively spaced adjacent abutment walls 14, as shown. The portionof wall 11 between the abutment walls 14 constitutes a supportingportion 15, c which i provided with an opening 16 to receive a rivet 17,by means of which the'stirrup S is pivotally secured to the postPL Theprovided fencing, which for purposesofillustrationis,

shown as in the form of a common type of snow fencing now in generaluse, is usually constructed of spaced apart pickets 18, which areflexibly connected by twisted'wire strands 19, as shown in Figure 1.Said member C, by reason of its design is flexibly rigid at the abutmentshoulders 26, so as to withstand-the twisting and winding due to thetorsional stresses which may be set up by storm-fenceswaying conditionson either fence panel ade jacent to the post.

In practice, the stirrup S is secured to the post P at a positionapproximately corresponding with the. planes in which the lower endsofthe pickets 18 are tobe maintained while the fence is inuse, and theabutment walls 14 are so arranged as to provide two spaced apart pocketsX each capable of receiving the lower end of a picket 18. In op eration,two adjacent pickets are located in the respective pockets X, so as tobe supported by the stirrup, said two picketsbeing equally spaced onopposite sides of the supporting portion 15. By this arrangement, theweight of the fence is carried by the stirrup S, and by reason of thepivotal mounting of said stirrup will permit of a certain amount'offlexibility in stringing the fencing from post to post, sothat saidfencing may conform to the ground contour.

The upper part of the fencing may be held in place in any suitablemanner, for instance, the upper strand wires 19 maybe hooked over lugs20 carried by the fence post as illustrated in Figure 6, therebysteadying the fence, although sustaining no part of the weight thereof.

Or, in lieu of this method, the fencing may be steadied by a clampmember C, as illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 5.- Referring to saidfigures, said clamp member'consists of .a post-engaging portion 25, fromwhich project forwardly extendedabutment shoulders 26, which are joinedwith laterallypositioned resilient clamping arms 27 ,slightly ofiset, sothat they will grasp the same pickets 18 which are engaged by thepockets X of the stirrup S. The post-engaging portion is provided with acentral-opening 28 through which a rivet 29 is passed, to pivotal'lysecure the same to the post P. It will also be noted that the picketengaging arms 2?. are provided with struck-in portions constructed toembed themselves into the wood of the pickets, and thereby insure a moreperfect engagement between said arms 27 and said pickets.

In practice, the posts are set up in the usual manner, it beingpreferred to have eachone previously equipped with the stirrup S and theclamp 16, so that in setting up the fencing two adjacent. pickets, atpositions opposite the 'post P may have their lower ends seated in thepockets of the stirrup S, the. clamp C at this time being swung aroundto a position parallel with the fence post, so as to passbetween saidtwo adjacent pickets, and permit ready engagement of the pickets-withthe stirrup. After the pickets have been engaged with the stirrup, theclamp member may be swung around into horizontal position, the arms :2?being sufficiently resilient to pass over the pickets 1'8, and. theirresilient character being such as to firmly hold the same pickets in anupright position. By this arrangement, the weight of the fence iscarried by the pickets which rest in the stirrups, the clamps G retainthe fence in a vertical position, no strain is brought upon the wires 19to support the fence. As illustrated,

the fence pickets are set into the supporting stirrup member S, and thenheld in place at the top by means of the clamp member C. The fencepicket is not held vertically'but inclines at a slight angle due mainlyilOllllG space between the picketsallowing the top portions of the fenceto passrearwardly "beyond the front face of the post. This rearwardmovement is stopped by virtue of contact cf the fence wire strandsagainst the post; This slight angle has a tendency. of pressing 'thelower front edge of the picket against the inside of the front supportwall of the stirrup which wall serves to hold the picket in place. Byreason of this arrange ment, a friction resistance is set up which incombination with the weight of the fence resting in the shoe and thecooperation of the spring catch holds the fence from tilting or topplingover.

If it is desired to use the device for attaching fence to posts of theold type, such for instance those which are provided with lugs 20, thestirrup member S may be attached to the posts after they are set up, orthe form of the device illustrated in Figure 6 may be employed. As shownin said figure, the stirrup S is identically the same as thatillustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 4, with the exception that thesupporting portion 15 is provided with an arm 15 in which is formed. twoholes 81 and 32 respectively. The first mentioned hole 31 is designed toengage a common type of rivet pin or lug 20, at tached to fence posts ofa type now in com mon use, so that the stirrup S will be supported bythe tongue 15. The hole 32 is of somewhat different shape to engage adifferent rabbet type of lug which is also in common use. Whichever formof lug the fence post may be equipped with, the proper hole 31 or 82, asthe case may be, is hooked thereover, and the stirrup is thus movablysupported in position. The wire strands 19 located above theplane of thestirrup may then be hooked over thecorrespondingly posi- :tioned lugs inthe post, as shown in Figure :6. It will be noted, however, that thefencing will be held by the stirrup at sufficientlv high elevationtomaintain the wire strands out of contact with the lower portions of thehooks or lugs, so that at no time does the weight of the fencing comeupon said wires. In this arrangement, the wires merely serve as stays tomaintain the fencing in its vertical position.

Should conditions arise which would make it impossible to sink the postsdeep enough, for instance, where the ground is very hard, the stirrup Swould normally be supported too high for efhcient operation of thefence. In this event a clamp member C substituted for each stirrup, or apluralityof clamp members may be used. Such clamp members will firmlyand tightly retain the pickets in place, longitudinal movement of thefence be ing minimized by the shoulders 26. By this arrangement thefencing may be held at desired height, vertical moven'ient being limitedby the distancebetween the rivet'29 and the wire strands 19, because thewire strands cannot pass the clamp, and in this way-the height of thesnow fence'from the ground may be regulated.

sion or abrasion caused by swinging of the.

fence in the wind and other causes of vibration incident to service. Afurther advantage is that the stirrup greatly facilitates the erectionof the fence, and also permits the use of shorter posts, because thewires are not utilized as a part of the supporting means. Anotherimportant advantage is that by providing the stirrup and the clamp withthe abutment shoulders, said shoulders firmly anchor the fence picketsto which they are engaged, so that the, fence may be tightly stretchedbetween posts, the abutment shoulders serving to provide the necessaryresistance to movement in both directions during the stretchingoperation. It will also be rea dily understood. that an importantadvantage is gained by placing the supporting stirrup ata short distanceabove the ground, because by this arrangement the center of gravity orforce thrust on the post is considerably lower, thereby greatlyimproving the stability of the fence. By constructing the clamp memberswith spring arms having struck in portions, the fencing will not readilybecome disengaged from the posts,

in the event that the fence and posts are blown over, either partiallyor entirely, while the ground is soft and the posts unstable,particularly during high winds.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described anoperative manner of constructing and using the same, although withoutattempting to set forth all-of the forms inwhich it may be made, or allof the forms of its use, what is claimed is:

1. A fence supporting device of the character described comprising astirrup member having a supporting portion at the middle thereof, andelongated picket engaging pockets on opposite sides of said supportingportion, said pockets each having a bottom wall and side walls soconstructed and arranged as to provide suspension means for receivingthe lower ends of adjacent fence pickets.

2. A fence supporting device of the character described comprising astirrup member having a supporting portion at the middle thereof, andelongated pocket portions on opposite sides of the supporting portion,said pockets each having a bottom wall, an abutment wall and side wallsso constructed and arranged as to provide suspension means for receivingthe lower ends of adjacent fence pickets.

3. A fence supporting device of the character described comprising astirrup member having parallel side walls, the middle portion of onewall having parts thereof bent back to provide adjacently positionedspaced apart abutment walls, the other side wall having a middlesupporting portion.

i. A fence supporting device of the character described comprising astirrupmember 1 having a supporting portion at the middle 5. In a fencesupporting means,*a clamp member having an intermediate post engagingsupport and oppositely extended picket engaging arms offset with respectto said support, each arm having one end joined with the support and theother end free,'so that said arms may yieldably engage the face of afence picket.

6. In a fence supporting means, a strip-like clamp member of fiat'metalhaving an inter- V mediate post engaging support, and oppositelydisposed abutment shoulders integral therewith,said clamp member alsohaving oppositely extended picket engagingarms, each arm having one endintegrally joined with an abutment shoulder and the other end free,so-that said arms may yieldably engage the face of a fence picket. P

7. The combination with a fence post, of a stirrup member provided withpockets each pocket having a bottom wall and side walls soconstructed-and arranged as to provide suspension means for receivingthe lower ends of adjacent fence pickets, means for movably connectingsaid stirrup member with a fence post, and means for clamping the upperparts of said pickets to said fence post.

8. The combination with a fence post, of a stirrup member having asupporting portion at the middle thereof .and elongated pocketspositioned on opposite sides of said supporting portion, said pocketseach having a bottom wall and side walls so constructed and arranged asto provide suspension means for receiving the lower ends of adjacentfence pickets whereby the fence may be accommodated to variations ofground contours, means for movably connecting the stirrup member withthe fence post, and means for clamping the upper parts of said picketsto said fence post.

9. The combination with a post and a fence provided with spaced apartpickets, of a stirrup having spaced apart pockets for receiving thelower ends of a plurality of adjacent fence pickets so as to support thefence, means for pivotally connecting said:

stirrup to the post, and clamping means carried by the post andpositioned to engage the pickets which are engaged by said stirrup.

10. The combination with a fence post and a fence provided with spacedapart pickets, of a stirrup supported by said post and having means forengaging the lower ends of a plurality of adjacent fence pickets, so asto support the fence, and a clamp member movably connected with saidpostand having means for yieldably engaging said adjacent fence pickets.

11. The combination With a post and a fence-formed with a plurality ofspaced apart 5 pickets, of a stirrup having parallel side Walls, themiddle portion of one Wall being bent to provide spaced apart abutmentWalls, and pockets positioned to engage a plurality of adjacent fencepickets so as to support the 10 same, said stirrup having a middlesupporting portion engaging said post, and clamping means connected Withsaid post and positioned to engage the upper portions of said adjacentpickets.

v 16 12. The combination with a fence post and a fence formed With aplurality of spaced apart pickets, of a stirrup supported by said postand having means for engaging the lower ends ofa plurality of adjacentfence 26 pickets, so as to support the same, and a clamp member movablyconnected With said post and having means for yieldably engaging saidadjacent pickets.

13. he combination With a fence post and '25 a fence formed of aplurality of spaced apart pickets, of a stirrup supported by said postand having means for engaging the loWer ends of a pair of adjacent fencepickets, so as to support the fence, and a clamp member connected withsaid post and having resilient arms positioned to engage the upperportions of said pair of pickets, said stirrup and said clamp memberhaving abutment shoulders positioned to limit longitudinal movement ofthe fence.

14. In a fence supporting means, a clamp member having a post-engagingportion and laterally extended resilient arms positioned to engage twoadjacent fence pickets, said arms being ofiset with respect to saidpost-engaging portion and having struck-in portions for penetratlng saidpickets.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. 7

DANIEL T. FINKBEINER.

